Selfless Humility

 “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭20‬:‭25‬-‭28‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Matthew wrote, “Jesus, knowing their thoughts, called them to His side and said, “Kings and those with great authority in this world rule oppressively over their subjects, like tyrants. But this is not your calling. You will lead by a completely different model. The greatest one among you will live as the one who is called to serve others, because the greatest honor and authority is reserved for the one with the heart of a servant. For even the Son of Man did not come expecting to be served but to serve and give his life in exchange for the salvation of many.”  This happened after James and John, because of their personal ambition asked to be enthroned with Jesus on His right and left in the hereafter.  Jesus told them that self promotion and ambition for power leads to jealousy, competition and oppression, which is quite the opposite of the Kingdom of God pattern.  It is a servant’s heart that God appreciates and showed it by example.  That’s why Paul, once the Pharisee of Pharisees, said, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”  Let this same attitude be in us which was in Christ Jesus of selfless humility.  Amen!

Unity in the Body of Christ

 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭133‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

A psalm by king David, “How truly wonderful and delightful it is to see brothers and sisters living together in sweet unity!”  Jesus prayed just before He endured the Cross, for this unity in the Body of Christ, the Church. “Holy Father, keep them safe by the power of Your Name, the Name that You gave Me, so that their unity may be like Ours.”  This is the purpose of our God that all who believe in Him will come to the unity.  We endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. God’s purpose is that we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.  Let’s enjoy this unity that God desires and be free from pride-filled opinions, for they will only harm our cherished unity.  We don’t allow self-promotion to hide in our hearts, but in authentic humility put others first and view others as more important than ourselves. Let’s put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.  This is good and pleasant for our God - let’s be happy in unity with our God.  Amen!

Be God’s Friend Rather Than His Enemy

 “The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Moses recorded, “The Pharisees were intent on putting Jesus to the test with difficult questions, so they approached Him and asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?” “Haven’t you read the Scriptures about creation?” Jesus replied. “The Creator made us male and female from the very beginning, and ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and live with his wife. And the two will become one flesh.’ From then on, they are no longer two, but united as one. So what God unites let no one divide!”  This was a clever test by the Pharisees as Jesus was in Judea and under Herod Antipas’ jurisdiction who had beheaded John for challenging his divorce. The Pharisees wanted Jesus beheaded too.  In a fallen world, divorce had been permitted by Mosaic law for adulterous immorality which breaks the bond of marriage.  Jesus reminded them the real reason for marriage as God had said at the creation of mankind even highlighting gender difference in the context of marriage.  The counterculture of the world today is against God.  Whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.  Let’s be a friend of God instead.  Amen!

Zion - God’s Chosen Dwelling Place

 “For the LORD hath chosen Zion; He hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever: Here will I dwell; for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation: And her saints shall shout aloud for joy.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭132‬:‭13‬-‭16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is one of the psalms that the priests sang as they ascended the fifteen steps leading worshippers into the entrance into the temple.     “Lord, you have chosen Zion as Your dwelling place, for Your pleasure is fulfilled in making it Your home. I hear You say, “I will make this place My eternal dwelling, for I have loved and desired it as My very own! I will make Zion prosper and satisfy her poor with My provision. I will cover My priests with salvation’s power, and all My righteous ones will shout for joy!”  Zion was a Jebusite fortress which King David captured and came to be called the city of David.  In David’s time mount Zion had the Ark of the Covenant which in the old covenant was the Presence of Yahweh.  That’s why the psalmist prophesied that Yahweh has chosen Zion for His habitation.  This was the fulfilment of prophecy as God made the new covenant with all who follow Him in this same place during the last supper.  Zion was also fulfilment of prophecy as Pentecost happened here when the Holy Spirit came down with fire.  Zion is the place where Yahweh dwells as God the Father where the Ark of the Covenant was; as God the Son when He made the new covenant with all who follow Him; and as God the Holy Spirit when the power of God first came upon the disciples.  God is the same yesterday, today and forever!  Zion is a foreshadow of God’s dwelling place with His people in heaven - that’s the forever Zion.  Amen!

The Power of Agreement in Prayer

 “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, “Receive this truth: Whatever you forbid on earth will be considered to be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will be considered to be released in heaven. Again, I give you an eternal truth: If two of you agree to ask God for something in a symphony of prayer, My heavenly Father will do it for you. For wherever two or three come together in honor of My Name, I Am right there with them!”  This is the authority God has given us, that whatever we permit on earth must be that which is already permitted in heaven.  But before that, we have to come into agreement with each other and agreement with Christ in the midst of us through His Word.  It is a perfect symphony of agreement bound with God’s Word.  If we are not in agreement then we are not ready for it because we haven’t come into perfect unity.  Unbelief, doubt, double mindedness spoils that perfect unity.  Let’s trust God and His promises being “Yes” and “Amen”.  Let the words of our mouth and the thoughts and intents of our heart be in perfect agreement with God’s Word to fulfil heaven on earth. Amen!

See the Humility of the Lord Jesus Christ

 “LORD, my heart is not haughty, Nor mine eyes lofty: Neither do I exercise myself in Great matters, or in things too high for me. Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, As a child that is weaned of his mother: My soul is even as a weaned child.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭131‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

King David wrote this psalm, “Lord, my heart is meek before You. I don’t consider myself better than others. I’m content to not pursue matters that are over my head— such as Your  complex mysteries and wonders— that I’m not yet ready to understand. I am humbled and quieted in Your presence. Like a contented child who rests on its mother’s lap, I’m Your resting child and my soul is content in You.”  What the Lord loved about David was his humility.  He opened his heart to the Lord with all humility, hiding nothing.  David remembered where he came from and where God placed him - from a shepherd boy to the king of Israel.  That is because God Himself is humble and David knew that.  Jesus, God’s Son, came not to do His own will but the Father’s.  Just see His humility - He was born in a humble manger and He had nowhere to lay His head because He came not for His own comfort; He came to serve and not to be served; He said He is gentle and lowly; He rode on a humble donkey; He washed His disciples feet; though rich, He became poor for our sake.  At the Cross, Christ emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in human likeness, and humbling Himself to death, even the death of a criminal.  Where can man’s ego and pride stand before our God.  It is humility that attracts God’s grace to us - let’s remember that.  Amen!

God Always Keeps His Word

 “Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭17‬:‭27‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, “But so that we don’t offend them, go to the lake and throw out your hook, and the first fish that rises up will have a coin in its mouth. It will be the exact amount you need to pay the temple tax for both of us.”  This miracle is a picture of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus.  The depth of the sea speaks to us of the depth of suffering Jesus passed through for us on the Cross.  The fish rose to the surface on its own and wasn’t “caught”.  In the mouth of our Lord Jesus is the full price of our sin debt, for He has declared the work of redemption finished, and our “tax” has been paid in full.  Now we have the same message in our mouth!  Peter had presumptuously told the tax collectors that Jesus would pay the temple tax, without asking Jesus first.  But Jesus backed up Peter’s word and performed a miracle to pay the tax.  Jesus got Peter “off the hook” by having him hook a fish with the exact amount of the tax for both Jesus and Peter!  Today we realise that God always keeps His Word - He has made us holy as His inner sanctuary for we are the temple of the Holy Spirit.  Amen!

Forgiveness of Sins through Christ Alone

 “If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, That thou mayest be feared. Let Israel hope in the LORD: For with the LORD there is mercy, And with him is plenteous redemption.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭130‬:‭3‬-‭4‬, ‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This psalm is attributed to David, “Lord, if You measured us and marked us with our sins, who would ever have their prayers answered? But Your forgiving love is what makes you so wonderful. No wonder You are loved and worshiped! He Himself will redeem you; He will ransom you from the cruel slavery of your sins!”  This was the cry of humanity in the old covenant.  The reason why Jesus had to be born as a Man, was because God’s wrath and judgment against mankind came upon Jesus.  God’s justice and righteousness never changed as only Jesus could be at the receiving end of God’s wrath at the Cross.  Who can stand before a holy God covered with sin?  Only Jesus, for He made Him Who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.  There is no one else who has the power to save us, for there is only One Name to Whom God has given authority by which we must experience salvation: the Name of Jesus.  In Christ alone we have redemption through His Blood, even the forgiveness of sins.  Amen!

We Believe in Christ by Faith - It’s a Free-Will Choice

 “The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭1‬, ‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, “One day some of the Pharisees and those of the Jewish sect known as the Sadducees approached Jesus, insisting that He prove to them that He was the Messiah. “Show us a supernatural sign from heaven,” they demanded. A wicked and wayward generation always asks for signs, but the only sign I provide for you will be the sign of Jonah the prophet.” Then He turned away and left them.”  Of the three major sects of Judaism of that day - Pharisees, Essenes and Sadducees - the Sadducees were a small but influential group that philosophically denied the supernatural and gravitated instead toward political control of the people.  Jesus reminds these religious people from Scripture itself, of the “sign of Jonah” which was supernatural and pointed towards Himself!  Jonah was thrown into the sea and this points to Christ’s death.  Being swallowed by the fish for three days points to Christ’s burial.  Being expelled from the fish speaks of Christ’s Resurrection and triumph over death, which is the greatest “sign” God could ever give.  The Resurrected Jesus is the eternal sign that our sins are forgiven.  We can never stop thanking our supernatural God for Jesus forgiving every human being’s sin through the Cross.  It’s a free will choice to believe Him as God never forces any to believe Him - it is entirely by faith.  Amen!

Proclaim the Victory of the Word

 “The plowers plowed upon my back: They made long their furrows. The LORD is righteous: He hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭129‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭KJV‬

This is one of the psalms that the priests sang as they ascended the fifteen steps leading worshippers into the entrance into the temple.        “They have hurt us more than can be expressed, ripping us to shreds, cutting deeply into our souls. But no matter what, the Lord is good to us. He is a righteous God who stood to defend us, breaking the chains of the evil ones that bound us.”  This was the experience of the Jews in Babylonian captivity where they endured great suffering.  But the writer of this psalm in Babylonian exile made this messianic prophecy telling us of how the Roman soldiers hurt and ripped Jesus’s back as a plower plows his field, making long furrows.  All this Jesus endured to bring mankind back to become His family with the same Father.  The sin of Adam brought humanity to follow the father of lies, that is the devil.  But Jesus rescued us so that as many as received Him became the children of God.  God’s plan will always prevail no matter whatever deception comes into the world.  That is why it is vital that God’s family dwells and abides in the Word to discern the wiles of the devil and proclaim the truth of the victory of the Cross instead.  Amen!